Event Title

Exploitation of Religion in Bollywood

Presenter Information

Xiangyu Zhao, Colby CollegeFollow

Location

Diamond 242

Start Date

30-4-2015 9:00 AM

End Date

30-4-2015 10:25 AM

Project Type

Presentation- Restricted to Campus Access

Description

My presentation will explore the function of religion in mainstream Bollywood. Specifically, I argue that mainstream Bollywood uses religion as a cinematic tool for entertainment, character development, and emotional attachment. Bollywood exploits religion to gain popularity in the box office. By stripping religion of its plurality, Bollywood removes the spirituality from religion in todays society. Im writing and presenting on this topic because Im interested in medias ability to manipulate and influence societys perceptions and behaviors. My overall objective is to successfully provide a case for how Bollywood exploits and misuses the spirituality of religion. People do not regularly examine the negative effects of Bollywood, but it is too important to go unnoticed. I will be using Devdas, Chakde! India, and Mughal-e-Azam as film examples of how Bollywood uses religion as a cinematic tool for entertainment, character development, and emotional attachment throughout the paper. Specifically, I will be using Devdas to exemplify religions function for the audiences emotional attachment to the film, Chakde! India for how religion is used to deepen character development and overall plot, and finally I will use Mughal-e-Azam to show how religion is used to create more captivating entertainment (in terms of song and dance). I will also be drawing upon literature to provide background on religious characters, practices, myths, songs and other contexts.

Faculty Sponsor

Nikky Singh

Sponsoring Department

Colby College. Religious Studies Dept.

CLAS Field of Study

Humanities

Event Website

http://www.colby.edu/clas

ID

1354

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Apr 30th, 9:00 AM Apr 30th, 10:25 AM

Exploitation of Religion in Bollywood

Diamond 242

My presentation will explore the function of religion in mainstream Bollywood. Specifically, I argue that mainstream Bollywood uses religion as a cinematic tool for entertainment, character development, and emotional attachment. Bollywood exploits religion to gain popularity in the box office. By stripping religion of its plurality, Bollywood removes the spirituality from religion in todays society. Im writing and presenting on this topic because Im interested in medias ability to manipulate and influence societys perceptions and behaviors. My overall objective is to successfully provide a case for how Bollywood exploits and misuses the spirituality of religion. People do not regularly examine the negative effects of Bollywood, but it is too important to go unnoticed. I will be using Devdas, Chakde! India, and Mughal-e-Azam as film examples of how Bollywood uses religion as a cinematic tool for entertainment, character development, and emotional attachment throughout the paper. Specifically, I will be using Devdas to exemplify religions function for the audiences emotional attachment to the film, Chakde! India for how religion is used to deepen character development and overall plot, and finally I will use Mughal-e-Azam to show how religion is used to create more captivating entertainment (in terms of song and dance). I will also be drawing upon literature to provide background on religious characters, practices, myths, songs and other contexts.

https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2015/program/449